1993 Mumbai serial blasts: Seven cops booked for ‘lavish treatment’ to Mustafa Dossa during train journey to Gujarat

On January 2, the escorting party allegedly “looked the other way” when Dossa met the two. After the incident came to light, an inquiry was ordered.

Additional Commissioner of Police Pravin Padwal (south region), who was then the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3), conducted the inquiry, and after seeking approval from the special court registered a case Tuesday evening. The case was registered at NM Joshi Marg police station as Arthur Road jail falls in its jurisdiction. The case was handed over to the crime branch. On Wednesday, the case papers, along with an FIR copy, was handed over to DCP (Detection) Dilip Sawant’s office.

Padwal, who had conducted the inquiry, submitted the report in two parts at the special court.

The report said assistant police inspector Ayaz Patel, who headed the escort team, was bribed Rs 25,000 by Dossa’s associate. It was allegedly under Patel’s instructions that the six constables stood at the end of the coach during the alleged meeting.

A highly placed source in the police said, “As a procedure, we had to record everyone’s statement but none of the police officials have accepted that they were bribed. But we have learnt Patel was bribed Rs 25,000 and asked the constables to look the other way.” The investigating team will probe whether the money was distributed among the six constables. When contacted, Padwal confirmed that the case was registered but refused to divulge details.

Dossa, arrested on March 20, 2003, had been since lodged in Arthur Road jail, and died on June 28 this year after a cardiac arrest.